Modi govt's calibrated erosion of EC's integrity: Kharge on election rule

New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday hit out at the government for tweaking an election rule to prevent public inspection of certain electronic documents, alleging it is part of the Modi government's "systematic conspiracy" to destroy the institutional integrity of the Election Commission.Kharge also said the Modi government's "calibrated erosion" of the ECI's integrity is a frontal attack on the Constitution and democracy. "Earlier, they had removed the Chief Justice of India from the Selection panel which appoints Election Commissioners, and now they have resorted to stonewall electoral information, even after a High Court order," he said in a post on X. Everytime the Congress party wrote to the ECI, regarding specific poll irregularities such as voter deletions and lack of transparency in EVMs, the ECI has responded in a condescending tone and chosen not to even acknowledge certain serious complaints, Kharge said. "The Modi government's calibrated erosion of ECI's integrity is a frontal attack on the Constitution and Democracy and we will take every step to safeguard them," Kharge said.Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh had said the party would legally challenge the amendment. Lok Sabha MP and Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said the poll panel had chosen opacity and a pro-government attitude in its dealings thus far.According to Rule 93, all "papers" related to elections shall be open to public inspection.The amendment inserts "as specified in these rules" after "papers".Law ministry and ECI officials separately explained that a court case was the "trigger" behind the amendment.